Wheel for traction-engines.



B. F. GILLIS.

WHEEL FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1913.

9559 Patented July 21, 19M.

2'sHEETssHEET 1.

"TFiEWnRRIs PE'iERs co, FHOTO-LITHQ, WASH/Era rmv, D. c.

B. F. GILLIS.

WHEEL FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 4, 1913.

1,1Q4,655 Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. Z6 ayw Z42 2]] [JZ j? I] [a 12 a 5 1' gmue mtoz THE Nomeis PETERS CO..PHOTO-LIiHOH WASHING roN, D. C.

BENJAMIN F. GILLIS, 0F WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN.

WHEEL FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

Application filed December 4, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. GrLLIs, acitizen of the United States, residing at lVatertown, in the county ofJefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wheels for Traction-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to vehicles, such as traction engines, and likestructures, and particularly to the traction wheels thereof.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a traction wheel withtractive teeth or mud-lugs, as they are termed, which are shiftable intoor out of a projected position, thus permitting the traction wheel to beused under circumstances where a smooth faced traction wheel could notbe used.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of manually controlledmeans for shifting the mud-lugs into and out of their projectedpositions.

A further object of the invention is to provide very simple and easilyoperated mechanism for projecting or retracting the mud lugs, thismechanism being soformeu as to provide for proper guidance and supportof the mudlug rods.

A further object of the invention is the provision of detachablesections or caps, forming a sectional housing extending entirely aroundthe wheel and covering and inclosing the cam plates whereby the lugs areprojected or retracted, thus preventing any access of dust and dirt tothe lug-actuating mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to so dispose the mud-lugs upon theface of the traction wheel as to secure the maximum tractive effect andso prevent any lateral sliding or skidding action of the traction wheel.

'Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 is a side elevation of a portion of a traction engine showing myimproved mechanism applied to the rear traction wheel. Fig. 2 is anenlarged diametrical section through the hub portion of a tractionwheel. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line-3-3 of Fig.2, the rim of the traction wheel and the mud-lugs being shown inelevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view showing a fragmentaryview of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Serial No. 804,706.

By referring to these figures, it will be seen that my improved wheelcomprises a rim 2 which is relatively broad, as usual, and a hub 3, thishub rotating upon a fixed axle 4 extending out from the body of theengine in the usual manner. The fixed axle is I reduced at itsextremities, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and disposed betweenthe extremities of the hub 3 and fixed axle are the washers 5 The hub isheld upon the axle by means of the usual nut, or like device 6.

The hub carries upon it, preferably attached to the wheel body itself,the usual gear-wheel 7 whereby power may be trans mitted to the tractionwheel from the pinion 8 mounted in the shaft of the gear-wheel 9,

which in turn is operatively connected to the engine in any ordinary orusual manner. The rim 2 of the wheel is connected to the hub 3 by meansof radiating spokes 10 of any usual or ordinary mechanism.

Disposed upon the hub 8 and slidably i mounted on this hub is a sleeve11, formed as illustrated in Fig. 4, of a plurality of radiating blades12, connected at their ends to preferably integral webs 13. The spokes10 pass inward each between a pair of the blades 12, as shown clearly inFig. 2, there being space enough at the adjacent bases of the blades topermit the slide to shift relative to the spokes. Each blade 12 iscontinued laterally outward to form the oppositely disposed spaced walls14 and these walls 14 of each blade 12 are formed with registering camslots 15 angular in form, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, one portionof each slot extending parallel to the circumference of the wheel andthe other portion extending inward and laterally. Each blade,immediately beneath the corresponding cam slot 15, as shown clearly inFig. 2, is recessed as at 16, this recess approximately conforming tothe shape of the cam slot, that is, extending inward and laterally.

Disposed between each pair of walls 14 is a lug rod 17. The outer end ofthis rod is connected to a head 18 which is flat and forms the body ofthe lug and which is adapted to project through a slot 19 formed in therim 2 of the wheel, as shown in Figs. 2

and 4. The inner ,end of each lug rod 17 is rovided with a transverselextendin in 20 which operates within-the slots 15.

It will now be obvious that by laterally shifting the sleeve 11 in onedirection. it

are projected they will take the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

the outer edge faces of the walls 14:, and

which abut against each other, each cover.

section being cut awayor notched at 22 to fit around the rods or spokes17 and to fit around the spokes 10. Normally the cover sections 21 abutagainst each rod and arethe end walls 18 by means of hoops 23. Each maybe adjustably tightened upon the cover sections to clamp them securelyin place, in any suitable manner as by means of nuts or bolts 24. WVhenthe hoops 23 are loosened and the hoops removed, it is possible todetach the cover sections so as to secure access to the interiormechanism housed thereby. As will be seen from Fig. 2 each of the rods17 bears at its inner end against the outer face of the sleeve 11 andrides upon the inwardly inclined face of the recess 16 when the sleeveis laterally shifted.

For the purpose of laterally shifting the sleeve, I preferably provide ashipper-ring or grooved member 25 formed integrally with or attached tothe inner end of the sleeve or slide 11, and actuated by means of ashipperlever 26 having an arm 27 pivoted to a bracket 28 on the frame ofthe machine. This arm 27 at its outer end is operatively connected to anactuating lever 29 moving over a rack 30, or arranged in any suitablemanner so that it may be locked in one or another position. By shiftingthe lever 29 in one direction it will be obvious that the slide orsleeve 3 will be shifted outward and by shifting the lever in the otherdirection that the slide or sleeve will be shifted inward.

It will be noted from Fig. 5, and also posed not at right angles to theplane of the traction wheel but at less than a right angle thereto. Itwill also be noted that the lugs are of such length and are at suchangles that'the rear end of one lug is approximately inalinement withthe forward end of the next succeeding lug in the rear of thefirst-named lug. This disposition of these lugs has an importantadvantage, in that i the lugs not only secure ample'forward traction butby reason of their angular seating they resist any tendency of the wheelto slide laterally. Furthermore, as one lug approximately overlaps thenext adjacent lugs, there will always be some one lug in engagement withthe ground when the :lugs are projected. Inasmuch as the lugs aremounted in the rim and the rods of the lugs pass between the coversections 21 and these bear against the spokes 10, it will-be obviousthat For the purpose of guiding and securelyi supporting the rods 17 ofthe mud lugs, I. provide a sectional housing designated generally 21,which is formed of a series of; staves, as they may be termed, or coversections, which extend parallel to and rest upon the mud lugs arethoroughly braced and will not breair, and furthermore that-the tractionof these lugs is applied to the wheel at ,a plurality of points. Thelugs and their rods maybe readily removed from the wheel if desired, orreadily replaced, and all the parts are also easily accessible,.andrepairs may be easily and quickly made. The pins 20 are removable, thuspermitting detachment of the rods 17 from between the walls 14. It willfurther be noted that my improved wheel is so constructed that all ofthe lugs may be projected or retracted simultaneously and to any degreerequired.

It will of course be understood that preferably the rear wheels of atraction engine are to be provided with these mud-lugs and a each rod 17is laterally braced by the walls 14.

The device is intended for all classes of traction engine or anypower-operated vehicles where mud-lugs are needed.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be the best form of myapparatus, I wish it to be understood that many minor changes might bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In atraction wheel, a hub, a rim, rigid spokes connecting the hub and rim, aplurality of radially extending mud-lugs shift- .able through slotsformed in the rim, each mud-lug including an inwardly extending I rod, asliding sleeve surrounding the hub and through which the rigid spokespass, said sleeve including a plurality of :radially directed blades,each blade including spaced walls, said spaced "walls being formed withThe lower end,

angular cam-slots, the inner end of each rod extending into the spacebetween a pair of walls, a pin extending through the cam slots of eachpair and through the inner end of the corresponding rod, and manuallyactuatable means for shifting the sliding sleeve laterally to cause theproject-ion or retraction of said mud-lugs.

2. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, a rim, rigid spokesconnecting the hub and rim, a plurality of mud-lugs operating throughslots in the rim, and each including an inwardly extending rod, alongitudinally sliding member mounted upon the hub and operativelyconnected to the rods to cause a projection of the lugs on a movement ofthe sliding member in one direction, and a retraction of the rods upon amovement of the sliding member in the other direction, a housinginclosing said sliding member and the inner ends of said rods and saidhousing being formed of removable sections, and means for holding thehousing sections in engagement with each other.

3. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, a rim, rigid spokesconnecting the hub and rim, a plurality of mud-lugs disposed in slots insaid rim and each mud-lug having an inwardly extending rod, a slidingmember mounted upon the hub and comprising a plurality of radiatingblades and annular end-pieces, each of said blades having a pair ofspaced outwardly extending walls, each pair of walls being formed withalining cam-slots, the inner end of each spoke being disposed betweenthe walls of a corresponding blade, a pin extending through thecorresponding cam-slots and through each rod, manually actuatable meansfor laterally shifting the sliding member to cause the projection andretraction of the lugs, and a housing surrounding the sliding member andresting upon the edges of the laterally extending walls thereof, saidhousing comprising detachable sections.

4:. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, a rim, fixed spokesconnecting the hub and rim, a plurality of mud-lugs disposed in slots insaid rim and having inwardly ex tending rods, a sliding sleeve mountedupon the hub and comprising annular end-members and longitudinallyextending blades spaced from each other to receive the rigid spokesbetween them, each blade being out-- wardly extended to form spacedwalls, said walls being provided with cam-slots, the inner end of eachrod being received between a pair of said Walls, the inner extremity ofeach rod bearing upon the edge face of the blade, said edge-face beingrecessed to correspond to the form of said cam-slot and thereby providea bearing for the inner end of the corresponding rod, a pin passingthrough said cam slots and through each rod, and manually actuatablemeans for laterally shifting the sleeve to thereby project or retractthe mud-lugs. 5. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, a rim,fixed spokes connecting the hub and rim, a plurality of mud-lugsdisposed in slots in said rim and having inwardly extending rods, asliding sleeve mounted upon the hub and comprising annular end-membersand longitudinally extending blades spaced from each other to receivethe rigid spokes between them, each blade being outwardly extended toform spaced walls, said walls being provided with cam-slots the innerend of each rod being received between a pair of said walls, the innerextremity of each rod bearing upon the edge face of the blade, said edgeface being recessed to correspond to the form of said cam slot andthereby provide a bearing for the inner end of the corresponding rod, apin passing through said cam slots and through each rod, and a housingformed of a plurality of cover sections resting at their ends upon theannular members at the ends of the sleeve and notched to permit thepassage of the rods, removable bands encircling said housing and holdingthe sections in place, and manually operatable means for laterallyshifting the sleeve to, thereby project or retract the spoke.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. GILLI'S. [1 s.] Witnesses:

NioHoLAs TI-IAUER, Anion Voss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

